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Liqueur Review: Trader Vic’s Macadamia Nut Liqueur

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I have a bit of a sweet tooth. So when I picked up a bottle of Trader Vic's Macadamia Nut Liqueur, I was looking forward to sampling it right away.

Trader Vic, of course, was the nom de guerre of Victor Bergeron, founder of the Trader Vic's chain of restaurants and one of the pioneers of the Tiki craze. (I mentioned him in my essay on the Mai Tai.) Bergeron died in 1984, but his name lives on, branding both the restaurants and a variety of products.

The first thing you notice about this spirit is the bottle. It's a heavy glass decanter-style bottle with a sturdy stopper. A very nice presentation. I know that I'm going to keep the bottle once the contents are gone, even though I have no idea what I'm going to use it for.

Upon opening, the scent of toasted nuts is immediately apparent. It's a very pleasant aroma, like roasting chestnuts at Christmas time. I like this.

Taking a taste, it's exactly what I hoped for. Very smooth and buttery, with a prominent flavor of sweet nuts and a hint of vanilla. It has a silky texture that makes it go down very easily, despite an alcohol content of 26.5% (53 proof).

After enjoying it straight, I tried some on the rocks, mixed with a little rum and milk. It made for a very nice dessert drink. I don't drink coffee, but I can imagine a shot of this going very nicely in a cup of joe.

Some of the Trader Vic's brand products — specifically the mixers — aren't of the highest quality. It's hard to imagine Vic ever using them himself. But this liqueur is excellent and well deserving of the Trader Vic's name.

Obviously this is not going to be to everyone's taste. But it's an excellent version of what it sets out to be: sweet, nutty and delicious.

Professor Cocktail

David J. Montgomery (aka Professor Cocktail) is a writer and critic specializing in books, publishing, spirits, and cocktails. He is an emeritus columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and The Daily Beast, and has also written for USA Today, the Washington Post, and other fine publications. A former professor of History, he lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and two daughters... Read more